If you Rode Forbidden Journey...POST HERE! :) (Spoilers)

[Everton]

Can someone who has ridden please tell me more about the spinning? If you can remember how many times does it spin? is it pretty intense spinning?
I can't do tea cups or waltzers at all but I REALLY want to ride this!
Thanks in advance!

 

[rjvose17]

rjvose17, do you know what the wait times were when you managed to get through quickly? I'm curious as to whether they put 5min base time or whether they put a realistic base time (including the time to walk through the queue and watch the scenes)

It was zero when I was there. Now, they let people in from the Virgin company (I am assuming Virgin Atlantic planes? They had a event too) so they let them in at 7 am, and I think I heard rumors that they were doing a breakfast too. The lady behind me in line was doing a breakfast at three broomsticks with her family as well but was NOT with the Virgin people. So knowing what to expect on the first day with FJ being down so quick I didnt take time for a locker, like I did the first time, and didn't take pics either until I was in the queue and after the ride. So there was two separate let in times...the Virgin people got individual escorts to the land, once the package holders got in we were made to stop in the port of entry right next to the rest. on the right and hulk on the left under the shade of the "stone" arch. Once 8 am rolled around about 6 TM memebers and a security guard all lined up and walked us to the land, upon entering the gates to WWOHP, we were set free and that's when people bolted to the desired locations. I knowing from the day before didn't hesitate and ran(litterally) to FJ. They were asking people to check the seat fit because they are snug. I didn't find that to be the case with me, and I wasn't about to waist time knowing my window of opertunity was limited. The posted wait time was 0 mins, but no more than 15 mins later when I got off and was done shopping it was 60 mins. I am going to try and upload some pics once I am home, I am currently 20,000 feet in the air using the airlines WIFI just so I can post on the disboards. I would say pack ONLY the essentials, smaller digital cameras etc. I have both a Sony Alpha 330, and a Kodak easy share 9mp. To be honest, I got great shots with both, it's just a matter of knowing what works. It was nice to not have to lug my big camera around and take it on the ride with me. I was tempted to take photos but didn't want to be distracted or distract anyone else. I hope that helps.

OH I almost forgot, the other thing with the lockers was that it wouldn't recognize my husbands finger print when we tried to get back in, we needed a attendent to help us. That was the case with several others too. So if you really are looking for precious mintues I would really think out your strategy.

 

[rjvose17]

Can someone who has ridden please tell me more about the spinning? If you can remember how many times does it spin? is it pretty intense spinning?
I can't do tea cups or waltzers at all but I REALLY want to ride this!
Thanks in advance!

I can't do Tea Cups either, but it's not like constant spinning, you twist, turn, and spin. It's not that bad. It's intense but visiually more so.

 

[AlexJB]

I guess I'll need to get practicing for the 'sprint to FJ' i'll be making in July !

Does anyone know how many lockers there are and how much they cost?

 

[rjvose17]

Our first day there will be 23rd (offsite). I hope by getting there before rope drop (like at 8am; we already have our tickets with us) and running to FJ (although we need to use a locker) the line won't already be longer than around 60-90 mins! Fingers crossed anyway

I wonder if the queue will also lighten up as the evening closes in? As we'll be there until the 10pm closing.

My guess is going to be that once the park officially opens being there at least an hour before rope drop wouldnt be too crazy. If it were me, and I was going for the first time, and knew that it was going to be busy, especially since FJ has problems, and it's such a huge deal, getting there as early as possible would be my plan. I would go 2 hours early, but early doesn't bother me, I even thought about bringing my Kindle to read while in line but didnt want to get a locker As it was I got up at 6 am got ready and got to the park by 6:45 for a 8 am gate opening. The day before with HALF the amount of people I was much later I got there at 7:30 for a 9 am gate opening and didnt get on the ride. I just think that people are underestimating the power that Harry holds on it's fans and how huge the base is. Universal is putting all it's eggs in this basket so they are going to be advertising even heavier and offering more and more to get people through those doors. Expect delays, and remember the early bird ALWAYS gets her worm.

 

[rjvose17]

I guess I'll need to get practicing for the 'sprint to FJ' i'll be making in July !

Does anyone know how many lockers there are and how much they cost?

There are several hundred lockers inside Hogwarts just as you enter, and they are free for a few hours I believe. After a certain amount of time they cost, but I am unsure what that cost is. Most people, like myself, take our stuff out once we had ridden the ride.

The first day I wore flip flops like a fool and almost rolled an ankle sprinting, the next day I wore my running shoes, much better choice

 

[rjvose17]

Hey, thanks for the report! Here's some questions:

~How much is video screen versus real? Can you tell the difference?

~Were the Dementors audio-animatronics, or holograms?

~JW

It seemed to be more "real" versus screen, but a good split none the less. They did a great job in the transitions from screen to real. The dementors are both holograms and animatronics...the animatronics get really close to you, I am assuming that they do this because of how they are in the movies making you feel "cold". It's intense.

 

[rjvose17]

What a great FJ description!
I rode it once yesterday also, and could really only remember general stuff about the ride itself(that's why I didnt posta description), how in the world did you remember all those details?
I want to note that all onsite guests had access to the preview, not just package holders, and apparently that will continue, as the letter we got stated that we were invited to the preview every day of our stay.
Also, yesterday we got to WWOHP at 8:30 and FJ was down; we got in line and after about 15 minutes it was up and we walked the fabulous queue at a moderate speed and pretty much got right on. There were way more people today; we arrived at about the same time and it was already down. Since it seems likely that at present it's going to go down, while you ought to be
there first thing, if you're at the IOA gates right at 8 you ought to be fine.

Someone asked about rubber bands- yes, if you wore flipflops you were given wide rubber bands to secure them to your feet. My girls wondered if that would continue, and we figured it probably would as we saw that a podium near the loading area was chock full of them.

It's kinda funny, because I was on the Disboards the night before looking at the questions that people had about the ride, and tried to remember all the things that people were asking. PLUS my husband didnt make it on with me this time, so I wanted to be able to give him a good play by play, hes as much of a ride junky as I, just not a big HP fan.

I would still say, don't underestimate the popularity of this attraction. With seeing the craze, people came dressed as the characters, I CRIED, and didnt think that was going to happen, and people screaming with excitment upon walking through the gates (adults as well as teens and kids), this has huge power for Universal. Unfortunatly I dont think they have handled this situation well, and honestly I think true HP fans would have liked to see a much larger addition, or even a whole entire park dedicated to HP. There is SO much untapped potential. If only I could be a universal "imagineer"(disney term I know) I would love to get my hands on that job.

 

[Claire-Bear]

One other quick qu I had, is there room for a waist bag when the seats close? I was hoping to take our mini video camera and/or small camera down the queue to then put in a waist bag for the ride. Thanks :

 

[Caribbeanprincess]

I'm curious was there or is there any indication of a single rider line, perhaps in the future? I won't be going until Decemeber, but since my mom can't ride due to physical conditions, I'd like to use a single rider line for second and third rides hehe.

 

[Metro West]

I would still say, don't underestimate the popularity of this attraction. With seeing the craze, people came dressed as the characters, I CRIED, and didnt think that was going to happen, and people screaming with excitment upon walking through the gates (adults as well as teens and kids), this has huge power for Universal. Unfortunatly I dont think they have handled this situation well, and honestly I think true HP fans would have liked to see a much larger addition, or even a whole entire park dedicated to HP. There is SO much untapped potential. If only I could be a universal "imagineer"(disney term I know) I would love to get my hands on that job.

I believe there is room for future expansion so I don't think this is as big as WWoHP will get. We'll have to wait and see what the future holds.

 

[scasta86]

Does anyone know if they offer locker storage while you are on the ride? I know there are lockers right outside Dragon Challenge, but what about Forbidden Journey?

 

[Claire-Bear]

Does anyone know if they offer locker storage while you are on the ride? I know there are lockers right outside Dragon Challenge, but what about Forbidden Journey?

Yes they have lockers on the right after entering the castle.

 

[scasta86]

Yes they have lockers on the right after entering the castle.

Sorry, just to clarify, that would be after entering the queue? Are they free?

 

[PrincessOp]

Forgive me if this has already been answered somewhere else, but does anyone know if baby-swap is available on FJ? My husband and I are both dying to ride during our preview Sunday or Monday - but our 6-yr-old isn't tall enough yet.

 

[Laurabearz]

I believe there is room for future expansion so I don't think this is as big as WWoHP will get. We'll have to wait and see what the future holds.

Looking at Google earth, FJ is butt up against turkey lake road... They only place to expand would be behind DD into the US backlot... Unless of course they take out the JP Discovery Center area or worse yet JP.

Heh.... they should just fill in the lake ha

 

[bubba's mom]

I am going to try and upload some pics once I am home, I am currently 20,000 feet in the air using the airlines WIFI just so I can post on the disboards.

What a faithful diehard!!

Thanks for your detailed review.

 

[Metro West]

Looking at Google earth, FJ is butt up against turkey lake road... They only place to expand would be behind DD into the US backlot...

Like I said Laura...we'll have to see what the future holds.

 

[RayaniFoxmur]

How do these seats compare to say, Soarin? I've never been to US before but we're thinking about heading this fall... I'm a big girl but I can do Soarin', so that would be a good comparison for me. Are they much smaller? Or about the same size?

 

[ChrisFL]

Looking at Google earth, FJ is butt up against turkey lake road... They only place to expand would be behind DD into the US backlot... Unless of course they take out the JP Discovery Center area or worse yet JP.

Heh.... they should just fill in the lake ha

No, IMO they could easily take out Sinbad and stuff up to Poseidon's Fury, as long as they keep Mythos, I'm happy!